Previous Winners

The Jewish Museum Berlin is the largest Jewish museum in Europe and a central point for remembering, discussing, researching and integrating Jewish-German life. It documents over 2,000 years of German-Jewish history, and has welcomed more than seven million visitors since it opened in 2001. The spectacular postmodern buildings by American architect Daniel Libeskind have also contributed to the museum's success. Its mission is to enlighten visitors about anti-Semitism and intolerance.

"Wake up, women!" is how the name of the Indian organization Jagori translates. It has shaped the women's rights movement in India for nearly 30 years. Based in India's capital New Delhi, the organization's 19 female staff use sophisticated PR techniques to give women in India a voice and make lasting improvements to women's position in Indian society. The action they take includes campaigns, publications, the protection of women's rights and gender equality, training courses, workshops and advice for women and girls who are victims of sexual harassment and violence. Jagori aims to reach out to women throughout the country and mobilize them to stand up for their rights.

Dr. Asma Jahangir is a well-known Pakistani lawyer and human rights activist. For over 30 years, she has campaigned for human rights in Pakistan as a tireless critic of the military regime and religious extremists. She is among the most important voices for women's rights in her society.

The Afghan Women's Network (AWN) is the largest women's network in Afghanistan. With over 110 member organizations and 5,000 women, the Network fights for the rights of women and children in Afghanistan. Human rights champion Afifa Azim and several other exiled activists in Pakistan founded the Network in 1995 following the UN's Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. The Network's vision is an Afghanistan in which women, children and men enjoy equal rights and women's contributions to society are respected and honored.

47-year-old lawyer Gamal Eid is one of the most important human rights activists in Egypt and the Arab world. He has legally defended most of Egypt's human rights activists and is one of the most prominent publishers and speakers on human rights and freedom of expression.

He is the founder and Executive Director of the Arabic Network of Human Rights Information (ANHRI), a key player in the Egyptian and Arab human rights movement.

58-year-old Radhia Nasraoui is one of the most prominent lawyers in Tunisia. She has been fighting for human rights, and against torture in particular, for more than 30 years.

In her roles as lawyer, human rights activist and co-founder and Director of the Association for the Fight against Torture in Tunisia (ALTT), she has been a key figure in the campaign for women's rights, an independent judiciary and against torture. Nasraoui is married to Hamma Hammami, general secretary of the Tunisian Workers' Party, and has three children.